Mike Connors (vaudevillian)

Mike Connors
Born	Michael Aloysius Connors 1891 New York, United States
Died	16 January 1949 (aged 57) Sydney, New South Wales. Australia
Occupation(s)	Radio presenter, vaudevillian
Spouse	Queenie Paul

Michael Aloysius Connors (1891 – 16 January 1949)[1] was an American-born Australian vaudevillian and radio presenter.

Biography

He was born in New York and came to Australia in 1916 on a six-month stage contract as part of a vaudeville act, contracted by Benjamin Fuller.[2]

After arriving in Australia, Connors met Queenie Paul whom he co-starred with in a revue.[3]

Connors and Paul married in Newcastle on 17 November 1917, and the couple subsequently became known for their collaborative stage work.[3][4][5][6]

After gaining financial backing in 1931, Connors and Paul established Con-Paul Theatres.[3] In 1932, Con-Paul Theatres took over the lease of the Grand Opera House in Sydney and renamed it the New Tivoli Theatre.[7]

The couple had three children together, Celestine, Colleen and Paul. Colleen Connors died at the age of five in December 1933 from meningitis.[8]

In 1938, Connors began working in radio at the ABC, hosting a national breakfast program and The Hospital Half-Hour.[9] Connors became seriously ill in 1948 from what was reported to be a blood clot. During his illness, he received many messages of support including one from Australian Prime Minister Ben Chifley.[10] He returned to radio in December 1948, only to again fall ill several weeks later with his condition worsening.[11]

Mike Connors died at the age of 57 on 16 January 1949.[1] Fellow entertainers Roy Rene, Jack Davey, Harry Pringle, George Wallace, Jim Gussey and Reg Quartley served as pallbearers at Connors' funeral.[12] Radio announcer Russ Tyson, who was already filling in for Connors during his ill health, replaced Connors on his radio programs.[13][9]

Connors' widow, Queenie Paul commenced working nine months after the death of her husband.[14]

References

1. (17 January 1949) Comedian's last bow, The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
2. (17 January 1949) 'Mike' – hero to sick, The Telegraph. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
3. Lees, Jennie Paul, Eveline Pauline (Queenie) (1893–1982), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 18, 2012. Accessed 24 October 2018.
4. (15 December 1922) Vaudevillians Arrive – Connors and Paul for the Royal, The Daily News. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
5. (24 February 1930) Last curtain on vaudeville at Fuller's – theatre going Over to talkies, The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
6. (27 December 1933) Connors and Paul back with 'flying colours', The Daily Standard. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
7. McPherson, Ailsa (2010) Entry: New Tivoli Theatre, Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
8. (20 January 1934) Human tragedy too deep for tears – vaudevillians mask their sorrow with smiles, Smith's Weekly. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
9. (3 May 1975) Hospital Hour to end, The Canberra Times. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
10. (12 December 1948) Mike's a lot thinner now, Truth. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
11. (17 January 1949) Personality on radio – Death of 'Mike' Connors, The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
12. (19 January 1949) Mike Connors' funeral, Queensland Times. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
13. Burns, Nelson (16 January 1949) Carrying On For Mike, The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
14. (9 October 1949) Comedian's widow stages comeback, The Sun. Retrieved 24 October 2018.